MA International Relations: Global Security and Development

• Programme overview

• You'll look at both the theory and practice of international relations in terms of the threats to, and vulnerabilities of, global security and development. Three compulsory modules will give you a basis for understanding global security, global governance and how to conduct advanced research. You'll then choose three specialised modules, giving you the opportunity to shape your degree to suit your interests. The certificate and diploma are available for those only completing part of the progression route. For the masters degree, you’ll complete a final dissertation on a specific aspect of the current security and/or development problems confronting policymakers in world politics. You’ll undertake a research and methodology module to support your masters research and equip you for your career. Learn through lectures, seminars and, in some cases, simulation exercises. Assessment of modules will be by a mixture of essays, seminar presentations, report writing, exams, and the dissertation.

  Core modules

  • MA Dissertation in Global Security and Development (IRL700)

    This module provides MA students with the opportunity to demonstrate their research skills. It requires the design and production of a substantial dissertation in the field of Global Security and Development in which the aims and objectives of the dissertation and an evaluation of the methodology are specified.

  • Research, Professional Skills & Methodology (IRL712)

    This module is designed to support and develop practical research and professional skills for postgraduate international relations and geopolitics students. The focus of the module is twofold – practical issues in research and professional practice as well as methodological analysis, grounded on a strong understanding of the fundamental, underlying ontological and epistemological issues that shape the methodolocial and research design choices we face when conducting research.

  • Strategy and Security Studies (IRL713)

    This module considers how national policymakers devise strategy to cope with the security challenges of the 21st Century. The broadening of the security agenda has brought a large number of issues and actors under the purview of security practitioners. As a result, it has become less clear where the boundaries of responsibility lie and how security problems should be prioritised. The module examines theories and developments in strategy and security to identify the most important risks and threats.

  Optional modules

  • International Trade Policy and Politics (IRL714)

    This module covers the primary institutions involved in regulating trade at the international and regional levels. It will focus on the World Trade Organization, the European Union, regional institutions in the developing world as well as major states such as the US and China. It explains the major contemporary policy issues; including trade disputes, trade wars, ‘behind the border’ issues, the trade-development link and trade in services. It then analyses the political, geopolitical and geoeconomic forces driving trade relationships in the contemporary world. As such it will offer a strong empirical and theoretical foundation for understanding trade politics in the 21st century.

  • Sub-Saharan Africa in the Global Political Economy (IRL715)

    This module explores Africa’s location in the global political economy, examining various historical, economic and socio-political developments over the past fifty years. It offers an overview of the history of the region, as well as the major contemporary political-economic and social developments and the challenges these pose. The module also seeks to provide the tools to analyse and understand what is going on in Africa today.

  • International Relations in the Middle East: A Critical Approach (IRL716)

    This module introduces the students to the study of International Relations in the Middle East. It does this by examining processes such as uprisings and revolutions, and concepts such as democracy and authoritarianism. The module’s approach encourages students to think about the relationship between domestic and international politics and the importance of historical context. Crucially, these concepts, processes, and approaches are valid in 21st century politics beyond the Middle East.

  • International Relations in Practice (IRL717)

    This module offers students the opportunity to integrate work or fieldwork experience into their programme of postgraduate IR study.

  • America and the United Nations 1945 to the present (MAHI716)

    This module provides a detailed examination of the relationship between the United States of America and the United Nations in the management of international relations from 1945 to the present.

Every postgraduate taught course has a detailed programme specification document describing the programme aims, the programme structure, the teaching and learning methods, the learning outcomes and the rules of assessment.

The following programme specification represents the latest programme structure and may be subject to change:

MA International Relations: Global Security and Development programme specification_2557